Sr Apparel Merchandising Product Manager
Road Runner Sports · San Diego, CA, US ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Internship
- Category
- Product
- Experience
- 5+ years
Overview
Road Runner Sports is looking for a Sr. Apparel Product Manager to join our Merchandising team. This is a buyer-first, senior leadership role; you will own the full commercial lifecycle of your category from seasonal plan through final sell-through, lead a team of Product Managers and APMs, represent Road Runner Sports to key vendor executives, and make the buying decisions that shape what millions of runners and walkers discover in our stores and on our site. Your focus is on apparel and you will operate with strategic independence, develop your team, drive new category initiatives, and play a direct role in building the assortment that sets Road Runner Sports apart in the specialty running market. If you have deep product expertise, sharp commercial instincts, executive presence, and a genuine passion for the active lifestyle community, this role was built for you.
About Us:
- Road Runner Sports is proud to have been recognized as the Footwear Retailer of the Year by Footwear Magazine
- Recipient of the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics
- Founded in a San Diego garage over 42 years ago
- Road Runner Sports has 50 plus stores across the country, and we are growing!
- Our Values, Mission & Purpose (we call them Our 6 Pillars) are Be Different, Bring the WOW, Build Something Great Together, Get Moving, Stay Active, and Live Healthy
What you'll get to do:
- Own the seasonal assortment plan for the apparel category from initial buys and open-to-buy management through markdowns, exit strategies, and quarterly business reviews presented to executive leadership
- Represent Road Runner Sports to key vendor executives, building strategic vendor partnerships, negotiating pricing, terms, and co-op, and holding partners accountable to quality and delivery
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Product Managers, Assistant Product Managers, and Merchandising Assistants by setting goals, coaching performance, and building a team that executes at a high level
- Drive category innovation by staying ahead of market trends, identifying new product opportunities, and bringing forward ideas that keep Road Runner Sports' assortment differentiated and relevant
- Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Operations to drive product launches, key item campaigns, and category presentation across all channels
- Travel to trade shows, vendor locations, and retail stores to stay ahead of the market and support the business
What you'll bring:
- 5+ years of progressive experience in product management, buying, or merchandising in a specialty retail, athletic, or active lifestyle environment
- Proven track record of owning a category, commercially managing open-to-buy, building seasonal plans, and delivering against sales, margin, and inventory goals at scale
- Experience leading or mentoring a team of buyers or product managers
- The executive presence and communication skills to represent Road Runner Sports to senior vendor contacts and present seasonal strategy to company leadership
- Category-specific expertise in Apparel strongly preferred for the respective role
- Strong analytical skills, comfortable with sales data, margin analysis, financial planning, and building business cases
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- A genuine passion for the running and active lifestyle community and a sharp eye for product, trend, and customer value
- Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field
Your rewards!
- Earn competitive pay
- Contribute to an OUTSTANDING team
- Be the envy of your friends with discounts on ALL the latest gear and footwear
- Enjoy free running and walking events
Acknowledgments
After acceptance of a potential offer, the successful completion of a background check will be required prior to start date. The offer is contingent upon the information received in this report, and will be carried out in accordance with Local, State, and Federal laws.
We’re committed to protecting your privacy rights. We collect personal information from you, including personally identifying information, professional or employment-related information, and educational information. The purpose of this collection is to assist in evaluating your application for employment.
To ensure your application is received as timely as possible, we encourage you to apply directly onto our Road Runner Sports Career page.
As you apply directly on our site, we will be reaching out to you within the next 10 days should your experience and qualifications meet our requirements for this position.
Road Runner Sports is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Road Runner Sports is an e-verify organization and an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.